23-Year-Old Becomes A Father And A Grandfather Overnight

posted by Dave Basner -

Jan 23, 2018

23-year-old Tommy Connolly is an amazing person. He was spending his days training to become a champion sprinter when he got a message on Facebook that changed his life.

It was from his 17-year-old cousin who he hadn't seen in a decade. It turned out she was 32-weeks pregnant, homeless, shoeless and had only a backpack full of clothes. Her baby was going to be taken from her when he was born and the baby daddy was in prison.

So Tommy took her in and wound up adopting her, and in doing so, became her son Kaydan's grandfather, as well as his first cousin once removed.

"Life dealt Kiarna a poor hand, and she's had to play it best she could. She's spent more time on the streets than anywhere else, and knows the police better than she knows her own family. She could write the book on traumatic experiences. Not many people know her story. It's very intense. Nobody deserves the life she's had.

I've spent the last few months working, moving houses, having meetings with different departments, signing forms, being assessed and monitored, chasing funds, setting up her bank accounts, buying baby stuff, furniture, going to hospital/doctor appointments, and getting her settled in. Glad to finally say she's now living in a safe, stable, awesome house on the Sunshine Coast with a brand new bed, and brand new life... away from drugs, violence, and drama. I got her a kitten too!"

He then gave an update:

"She's just passed her learners drivers license test and I'm teaching her to drive a manual, and also booked her in to get braces for her teeth next month. She has plenty of clothes, she's improving her reading and writing, and she's motivated to get the education that she never had."

Connolly went on to say, "When bad things happen, it's your family that supports you.. It means no one gets left behind or forgotten. I've had my family pull my head out of the gutter before... It was time to pay it forward. Family comes first."

Even with his many new responsibilities, Tommy is still sprinting and he does real estate too.